Abstract: An air cycle machine includes an outer housing, a first section arranged within the outer housing, and a second section arranged within the outer housing and operably coupled to the first section. The first section includes a first housing and a first rotatable component and the second section includes a second housing and a second rotatable component. At least a portion of a fluid flow path extending between an outlet of the first rotatable component and an inlet of the second rotatable component is arranged within the outer housing.

Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis, a compressor section and a turbine section operably coupled to the compressor section. The compressor section includes a compressor housing and a compressor rotor connected to the shaft and the turbine section includes a turbine housing and a turbine rotor mounted to the shaft. At least one heat exchanger is positioned within one of the compressor housing and the turbine housing.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) of an aircraft includes an inlet for a first medium, an outlet for the first medium, an air cycle machine including a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft operably coupling the compressor and the turbine, and a plurality of heat exchangers arranged in fluid communication with the air cycle machine. A first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers is arranged directly downstream from the turbine and heat is transferred to the first medium within the first heat exchanger. A water extractor is arranged directly downstream from the first heat exchanger and a flow path connects the air cycle machine, the plurality of heat exchangers, and the water extractor with the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank having an inerting system flow path connected to the fuel tank. A catalytic reactor is arranged along the inerting system flow path configured to receive a reactant mixture of first reactant and a second reactant to generate inert gas. A condenser heat exchanger is arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank to cool an output from the catalytic reactor. A first ejector is configured to receive the first reactant and the second reactant and output the reactant mixture through an outlet. A second ejector is configured to receive an inert gas and the second reactant to output a mixture of the second reactant and the inert gas.

Abstract: A vacuum generation system includes a main ejector having a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet. The second fluid inlet is configured and adapted to pull dissolved gases out of fuel. The system includes a plurality of fluid sources configured and adapted to be variably supplied to the first fluid inlet of the main ejector. A method of modulating pressure in an ejector to generate a vacuum includes supplying a fluid to an ejector from at least one of a plurality of fluid sources, and generating a vacuum with the ejector for removing dissolved gasses out of fuel.

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a reactant mixture comprising a first reactant and a second reactant to generate an inert gas to be supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a condenser heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to cool an output from the catalytic reactor, and a fan assembly arranged within an inerting system flow path upstream of the catalytic reactor, wherein the fan assembly is arranged within a gas flow having a temperature of at least 185° C.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultra-rapid PCR detection system, which comprises a temperature control device, a transmission device and a reaction tube fixing device; the temperature control device at least comprises two temperature control modules, wherein at least one of the temperature control modules is a high-temperature module and at least one of the temperature control modules is a low-temperature module; a heating temperature of the high-temperature module is a first preset temperature, and a heating temperature of the low-temperature module is a second preset temperature; the transmission device is in cooperation with the temperature control device and the reaction tube fixing device, so that a reaction tube on the reaction tube fixing device is switched between the high-temperature module and the low-temperature module; the device has a compact structure and the temperature setting of the high-temperature module and the low-temperature module can promote the rising and falling rate of the tempe

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank having an inerting system flow path connected to the fuel tank. A catalytic reactor is arranged along the inerting system flow path configured to receive a reactant mixture of first reactant and a second reactant to generate inert gas. A condenser heat exchanger is arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank to cool an output from the catalytic reactor. A first ejector is configured to receive the first reactant and the second reactant and output the reactant mixture through an outlet. A second ejector is configured to receive an inert gas and the second reactant to output a mixture of the second reactant and the inert gas.

Abstract: Fuel tank inerting systems are described. The systems include a fuel tank, a catalytic reactor arranged to receive a reactant mixture comprising a first reactant and a second reactant to generate an inert gas to be supplied to the fuel tank to fill an ullage space of the fuel tank, a condenser heat exchanger arranged between the catalytic reactor and the fuel tank and configured to cool an output from the catalytic reactor, and a fan assembly arranged within an inerting system flow path upstream of the catalytic reactor, wherein the fan assembly is arranged within a gas flow having a temperature of at least 185° C.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) of an aircraft includes an inlet for a first medium, an outlet for the first medium, an air cycle machine including a compressor, a turbine, and a shaft operably coupling the compressor and the turbine, and a plurality of heat exchangers arranged in fluid communication with the air cycle machine. A first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers is arranged directly downstream from the turbine and heat is transferred to the first medium within the first heat exchanger. A water extractor is arranged directly downstream from the first heat exchanger and a flow path connects the air cycle machine, the plurality of heat exchangers, and the water extractor with the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of environmental control, comprising: passing a first air stream and a second air stream through a valve; wherein the valve directs the first air stream through a first adsorption bed and directs the second air stream through a second adsorption bed; wherein the first adsorption bed produces a dehumidified air stream, and wherein the second adsorption bed is purged of moisture by the second air stream, thus producing a purge stream; and using the valve to redirect the first air stream and the second air stream when the first adsorption bed reaches a moisture saturation point or a timed interval, wherein the first air stream passes through the second adsorption bed and the second air stream passes through the first adsorption bed.

Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through at least a portion of the interior region, and having exterior surfaces and inner hollow regions, where the inner hollow regions are configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid. The membrane module further comprises an opening extending through the outer casing for providing a feed solution to the interior region adjacent the exterior surfaces of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, where the feed solution provided to the opening has an elevated temperature that is greater than an atmospheric-pressure boiling temperature of the feed solution, and an elevated pressure at which an effective boiling temperature of the feed solution is greater than the elevated temperature.

Abstract: A membrane distillation system includes a membrane distillation module, a brine loop and a distillate loop. The brine loop and the distillate loop each include means for regulating flow of brine solution and distillate, respectively, to the membrane distillation module. The flow of brine solution and distillate is regulated to prevent brine solution and distillate from penetrating membranes of the membrane distillation module. A method of membrane distillation includes delivering brine solution and distillate to the membrane distillation module at low pressures in a first mode. The method also includes heating the brine solution and cooling the distillate and delivering portions of each to the membrane distillation module in a second mode. The portions of heated brine solution and cooled distillate are adjusted to facilitate membrane distillation while preventing liquid from penetrating membranes of the membrane distillation module.

Abstract: A contactor module for separating a distillate from a feed solution includes an outer casing with an interior region, a distillate collection chamber, and pluralities of hollow fiber membranes and hollow tubes extending through the distillate collection chamber, where the hollow fiber membranes are configured to allow vapor transmission, and the hollow tubes are configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy.

Abstract: A distillation system and method includes open reservoirs and pluralities of hollow fiber membranes and hollow tubes extending through portions of separate open reservoirs. The hollow fiber membranes are configured to allow vapor transmission, and the hollow tubes are configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission but allow transmission of thermal energy. Feed solution is circulated through the open reservoirs. Distillate is separated from the feed solution by the hollow fiber membranes and thermal energy is recouped through the hollow tubes.

Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a seal disposed within the outer case, thereby dividing the interior region into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, where at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes have first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, the first segments being configured to allow vapor transmission therethrough, and the second segments being configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission therethrough, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy therethrough.

Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through at least a portion of the interior region, and having exterior surfaces and inner hollow regions, where the inner hollow regions are configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid. The membrane module further comprises an opening extending through the outer casing for providing a feed solution to the interior region adjacent the exterior surfaces of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, where the feed solution provided to the opening has an elevated temperature that is greater than an atmospheric-pressure boiling temperature of the feed solution, and an elevated pressure at which an effective boiling temperature of the feed solution is greater than the elevated temperature.

Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a seal disposed within the outer case, thereby dividing the interior region into a first chamber and a second chamber, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber, where at least a portion of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes have first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, the first segments being configured to allow vapor transmission therethrough, and the second segments being configured to substantially prevent vapor transmission therethrough, and further configured to allow transmission of thermal energy therethrough.